Jayden Clarke

Jayden Clarke (born 8 May 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League Two club Gillingham.^[1]

Jayden Clarke

Personal information
Date of birth	(2001-05-08) 8 May 2001 (age 23)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Gillingham
Number	17
Youth career
	Tottenham Hotspur
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Bedfont Sports
2020–2022	Hendon	49	(5)
2022–2023	Dulwich Hamlet	22	(4)
2023–	Gillingham	58	(7)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:09, 18 January 2025 (UTC)

Career

Clarke played for Tottenham Hotspur's academy.^[2] After playing for Bedfont Sports, he joined Hendon in August 2020.^[3] He made his debut on 25 August, in a London Senior Cup match against Wingate & Finchley, which finished 3–1 to Hendon.^[4] In his first season with Hendon, he made 14 appearances and scored 3 times, and signed a contract extension the following season.^[5] He won the Hendon Young Player of the Year award in the 2021–22 season.^[6] Across his 2 seasons with the club, he made 63 appearances and scored 11 goals.^[7][8]

The following summer, he went on trial with National League South side Dulwich Hamlet, playing in 7 pre-season friendlies before securing a move to the club in August 2022.^[9] He made his National League South debut on 7 August, the first game of the season; he came on for Kreshnic Krasniqi in the 64th minute, and scored the winner to win the match 2–1.^[10] He won the August and December Dulwich Hamlet Player of the Month awards, and also the National League South Player of the Month in December.^[11]

Clarke signed for Gillingham in January 2023.^[2][12][13] By March he had played one game for the club in the Kent Senior Cup, and was linked with a loan move away, but the club decided to retain him.^[14][15] He made his Football League debut on 22 April 2023, in a 2–2 draw against Bradford.^[16][17] On 8 May 2023, he made his first start in a 2–0 victory against Salford.^[18] His first goals for the club came on 14 September 2024, where he got a brace in a 3–0 win against Tranmere Rovers.^[19]

References

1. Jayden Clarke at Soccerway. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
2. "Gills clinch the signing of Jayden Clarke". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com.
3. "Clarke signs up". www.hendonfc.net. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
4. "Greensnet – Official Hendon FC: Former Staff – Jayden Clarke". www.hendonfc.net.
5. "Jayden Clarke re-signs". www.hendonfc.net. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
6. "End of Season Awards". www.hendonfc.net. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
7. "Jayden Clarke | Player Profile · Aylesbury United Archive". www.aylesburyunitedarchive.com.
8. "Jayden joins Hamlet". www.hendonfc.net. 3 August 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
9. Tom Bale (5 August 2022). "Joe & Jayden Join". Dulwich Hamlet. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
10. Tom Bale (7 August 2022). "Opening Day Success". Dulwich Hamlet. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
11. Tom Bale (19 January 2023). "Clarke Departs For The Gills". Dulwich Hamlet. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
12. "Gillingham sign Clarke and Leyton Orient's Coleman" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
13. "Gillingham prepared to be patient with exciting new signing". Kent Online. 19 January 2023.
14. "Promising forward staying at Gillingham despite deadline-day interest". Kent Online. 23 March 2023.
15. Pooley, Alex (24 March 2023). "Gillingham's Andy Hessenthaler on Jayden Clarke "He's so close to first team" – Exclusive Quotes".
16. "Jayden Clarke makes Football League debut for Gillingham at Bradford on Saturday". MSN.
17. Luke Cadwell (23 April 2023). "Jayden Clarke makes Football League debut for Gillingham at Bradford on Saturday". Kent Online. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
18. Luke Cadwell (8 May 2023). "Salford City 0 Gillingham 1: Match reaction from Gills boss Neil Harris after League 2 victory". Kent Online. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
19. Luke Cadwell (15 September 2024). "Jayden Clarke scored twice for Gillingham late on in their 3–0 victory over Tranmere Rovers". Kent Online. Retrieved 1 December 2024.